Over 8.5 lakh migrants returned to Odisha during COVID-19 pandemic; Rs 9 cr paid to ECoR

Bhubaneswar: Over  8. 5 lakh migrants have returned to Odisha so far during the COVID-19 pandemic, informed  Rural Development and Labour Minister Susanta Singh during the proceedings of the State Legislative Assembly here yesterady.

Replying to a question raised by Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja, Singh said  total 8, 53,777 migrants have returned to the state so far. And the highest number of people have returned from states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

“District and block-wise details of migrants, including labourers, who had done the registration before returning to the state are being collected,” the Minister said.

However, no official information has been availed regarding migrants, who have returned to their home states during the period, he added.

In another reply, the Minister further informed that total 277 Sharmik Special trains were engaged for brining the migrants back to the state. A total amount of Rs 9 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) has been paid to East Coast Railway (ECoR) towards the transport expenditure.

The Monsoon Session of Odisha Assembly began yesterday in adherence to COVID-19 guidelines. Wearing face shields and masks, MLAs were allowed to speak while sitting on their seats.  Besides, glass cover partisans were made to ensure social distancing during the session. Total seven bills, including the controversial Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill 2020 were tabled in the house yesterday.

 

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